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NSW · Act

Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997

The Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) is NSW's main environment protection law, administered by the EPA. It sets up environment protection licences for scheduled activities, pollution offences in th...
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Current Topics 8

Air pollution offences from plant and premises

Oct 2026
Occupiers commit an offence if air pollution from their premises is caused by failing to maintain plant in an efficient condition or to oper...
Medium
1 citation

Clean-up, prevention and prohibition notices

Oct 2026
The Act provides for clean-up, prevention and prohibition notices. Failing to comply with a prevention notice is an offence.
Medium
1 citation

Duty to Notify Pollution Incidents Causing Material Harm

Oct 2026
A person carrying on an activity must immediately notify each relevant authority of a pollution incident that causes or threatens material h...
High
1 citation

Environment Protection Licences – Obligation to Hold and Comply

Oct 2026
Environment protection licences authorise scheduled development work and scheduled activities, and can control non-scheduled activities to r...
High
1 citation

Environment protection obligations cannot be delegated or transferred

Oct 2026
Obligations under environment protection legislation, including under an environment protection licence, may not be delegated or transferred...
Medium
1 citation

How protection of the environment policies are prepared, consulted on and made

Oct 2026
The EPA prepares draft protection of the environment policies and consults on them, and the Governor may make a policy on the Minister's rec...
Low
1 citation

NSW IChEMS Register – Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Obligations

Oct 2026
People who manufacture or use an industrial chemical listed in the NSW IChEMS register must comply with its risk management measures and mus...
High
1 citation

POEO Act – Offence Tiers and Penalties

Oct 2026
The Act sorts environment protection offences into three tiers. Tier 1 offences, committed wilfully or negligently, carry the highest penalt...
High
1 citation

Recent updates

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20 Feb 2026 · New
1 Jan 2026 · Amended

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Citations tracked8
Topics tracked8
Every update cites a regulator, parliament, or legislation register.